The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Abdel-Fatau Musah, says the Regional body is prepared to move its Standby Military Unit into Niger Republic if diplomacy fails to yield results.
Musah announced this in Accra at the opening of a two-day meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDC). The meeting is to plan steps to activate the stand-by force on Niger Republic, pending approval by ECOWAS Leaders.
He added that while ECOWAS does not need the UN’s permission for such steps, it is already enjoying the international body’s support to take any action.
The meeting follows the decision by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to activate a standby force after the military junta in Niger Republic failed to reinstate Mohamed Bazoum as President.
The meeting is the second in two weeks the Committee is holding on the restoration of democracy in Niger Republic.
ECOWAS leaders met in Abuja on August 10 to explore other options including military intervention.
The meeting is expected to end Friday with a Communique.